Hackworth turns to Soumare on backline

Columbus Crew's Chaqd Marshall climbs over Philadelphia Union's Jeff Parke (31) during the second half of an MLS soccer game in Columbus, Ohio, Saturday, April 6, 2013. On the ground is Union's Amobi Okugo (14). The game ended in a 1-1 tie. (AP Photo/Mike Munden)

By MATTHEW De GEORGE, mdegeorge@delcotimes.com, CHESTER — Nine games into his first full season as the Union manager, John Hackworth has faced

Nine times this season, Hackworth has automatically penciled in the same four-man backline. All but once in the eight games prior to Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Seattle Sounders had he seen the same four finished a game.

For the first time next week, Hackworth will be guaranteed to make a change — thanks to Sheanon Williams’ red card in the 85th minute Saturday. Complicating matters is an injury to the man for whom Williams was deputizing in the center, Jeff Parke, who had to be withdrawn just before halftime with a hamstring strain.

The answer to the Hackworth’s problems may be an unlikely source: Bakary Soumare.

Soumare made a splash in late March, after three games as an unused substitute, by asking for a trade. The veteran defender, who was acquired early last summer while recovering from a knee injury suffered last spring, has made just one appearance for the Union.

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It was a 3-1 loss to Chicago, his former team and where he maintains a home, at PPL Park Aug. 13. That’s the same Chicago Fire whose game against New York Soumare went to see April 7 while the Union traveled to Columbus. And it’s the same Chicago that the Union play each of the next two weekends, a midweek game against Los Angeles in between. The irony is not lost on Soumare.

“Of all the teams,” Soumare said Saturday at PPL Park, “of course it had to be Chicago.”

From the outside, it may look like this week would be different for the Union and Soumare, now that the chance to get in the lineup is so palpable. But Soumare is expecting business as usual because, well, that’s the guise he’s been operating under for weeks.

“It’s the same thing. Because the only reason I’m saying I’m going into it the same way is because I’ve been going through training every day, hoping to get a shot the following game,” Soumare said. “That’s the mentality you’ve got to have even though you’ve asked for the trade, you’ve been asked to be shipped somewhere where you’re going to play. Whether it was here or somewhere else, you still train everyday so that way if you end up somewhere else, you’re ready to go. …

“It’s not an easy situation to be in. I’ve never been in a situation like this. But you deal with it.”

Hackworth’s adamant loyalty to his backline has been notable. In six matches since Soumare’s trade request, Hackworth hasn’t named a defensive player to his bench. The closest thing to a defensive sub is Gabriel Farfan, who played extensively at left back last year but was trumpeted by Hackworth through the offseason as returning to his natural midfielder position. The starting back four of Parke, Williams, Amobi Okugo and Ray Gaddis had played all but 11 minutes this season entering Saturday. Farfan came on for Parke against Seattle, Williams slotting centrally to pair with Okugo.

Soumare is the ready-made replacement if Parke can’t go. Perhaps most important in the equation is that the relationship hasn’t been fractured. Hackworth has glowingly praised Soumare for his professionalism and work ethic, maintaining that Soumare’s lack of playing time is a product of the success of the other four rather than any shortcomings of the Malian.

Soumare admits the situation is difficult and unique among his seven-year playing career that has included stops in Germany and France, but it’s not the fault of the team.

“It’s difficult not playing,” Soumare said. “The waiting game is tough when you don’t know where you’re going to be next week, what’s going on. I’ve never been put in that position, but it’s part of the job. … Things haven’t changed. I come in every day and train. It’s the same thing it was before I asked for a trade. I still have a relationship with Hack. There’s no animosity. It’s not a Freddy (Adu)-type thing that it was like I don’t want you around, so it’s been good. It’s difficult, but we’re dealing with it the right way.”

Parke’s injury out of the blue is an example of how quickly things can change in Soumare’s situation. Suddenly he could get the playing time he needs, play well enough to expedite a trade … or rescind his trade request?

“I don’t want to get into that,” Soumare said when asked. “All I’ve got to say it’s been a very difficult time. … People don’t realize that a quarter of the season has gone by, which is a lot. I’ve never gone that long without playing. It’s mentally difficult, but we’ll see.”

A part of maintaining that situation has been a good-faith effort on all sides. Soumare, at age 27 and in the prime of his career, just wants to get on the field, in Philly or elsewhere. He’s played only one league game in 14 months and is looking for match fitness to get into the conversation for a Malian national team that has a chance to qualify for next year’s World Cup.

“The one thing I appreciate from Philly is that a lot of times in every sport you see players request trades and clubs say, no, we’re not doing that,” Soumare said. “But the first day I went in there and asked, and I know that from being firsthand involved in negotiations that they’ve tried. They’ve tried to get a trade done. It’s difficult because of the number (Soumare’s base salary was $240,000 last year), but they’ve tried very hard. And they’ve tried to actually accommodate me. So you’ve got to give respect and credit where credit is due. I’ve asked for something that is out of the ordinary, and they’ve not only granted my trade but they’ve tried to make it happen, which says a lot about the club.”